About books, reading, the power of fiction, some music, some movies. These are my opinions, my thoughts, my views. There is much wisdom afloat in the world and I like finding it in books. Communicating about wisdom found keeps it from getting lost.

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

TOP 25 BOOKS READ IN 2012

This past year I read 138 books; not too bad but not as many as I had planned to read. Some were for reading groups, some were for research, some I read just to keep up with the unusually large amount of good novels published in 2012. This list is compiled from the ones that gave me the largest kick or pleasure or just plain awe.

I got an iPad for my birthday and navigated the changes necessary to read in a digital format. It turned out to be fine and an e-reader is especially good for reading those huge tomes that give me reader's elbow. Like most modern people, I am now hooked on being able to get a book in minutes without having to leave the house.

My goal this year is to read 161 books. That is one more than my highest ever total books read in one year. Please, let's not have anyone I love getting sick, dying, or deciding to need me for large chunks of time. My mantra will be, "Leave me alone, I am reading." I can dream, can't I?

THE LIST

Among Others, Jo Walton

As Though She Were Sleeping, Elias Khoury

Childhood's End, Arthur C Clarke

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Tom Wolfe

The Golden Mean, Annabel Lyon

Go Tell It on the Mountain, James Baldwin

Henderson The Rain King, Saul Bellow

Horse Heaven, Jane Smiley

How the Dead Dream, Lydia Millet*

The Inner Circle, T C Boyle

Last Night in Montreal, Emily St John Mandel

Lovers and Tyrants, Francine du Plessix Gray

NW, Zadie Smith*

The Orphan Master's Son, Adam Johnson

Our Tragic Universe, Scarlett Thomas

A Partial History of Lost Causes, Jennifer duBoisThe Patagonian Hare, Claude Lanzmann

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, Jonathan Evison

Stoner, John Williams

Telegraph Avenue, Michael Chabon

Tete-A-Tete, Hazel Rowley

Truman, David McCullough

White Teeth, Zadie Smith

Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafur

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, Jeanette Winterson

* review coming soon. The rest of the list can be found reviewed on this blog.

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ONCE UPON A TIME BOOKSTORE

This blog is linked to Once Upon A Time Bookstore in Montrose, CA, where I worked for several years. It is primarily a resource for customers to read my book reviews but anyone can now order books from the store via my blog. For store events, reading group schedules and other store info please visit the website.

You can now order any title reviewed here (as long as it is in print) in various formats including ebook. To order directly from Once Upon A Time, use the link at the bottom of the post. To order or find the book at your nearest local independent store, click on the book cover image at the top of the post.